Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon was an English nobleman and courtier. He was the patron of Lord Chamberlain's Men, William Shakespeare's playing company.
Background
Carey was born on March 4, 1526 in England, the second child of William Carey and Mary Boleyn who was the sister of Anne Boleyn, the second wife and Queen of Henry VIII. Carey and his elder sister Catherine came under the wardship of their maternal aunt Anne Boleyn, who was engaged to Henry VIII at the time. The children still had active contact with their mother, who remained on good terms with her sister, until Mary's secret elopement with a soldier, William Stafford (later Lord of Chebsey) in 1535. Henry's royal aunt was beheaded in May 1536, when he was ten years old. His mother died seven years later in 1543 on her estate in Essex.
Education
Anne Boleyn acted as Carey's patron and had him provided with an excellent education in a prestigious Cistercian monastery. He was also tutored at some point by French poet Nicholas Bourbon, whose life had been saved from the French Inquisition after Queen Anne's intervention.
Career
Member of parliament for Buckingham under Edward VI and Mary, Carey was knighted in 1558, was created Baron Hunsdon in 1559, and in 1561 became a privy councillor and a knight of the Garter. In 1568 he became governor of Berwick and warden of the east Marches, and he was largely instrumental in quelling the rising in the north of England in 1569, gaining a decisive victory over Leonard Dacre near Carlisle in February 1570. Hunsdon had previously belonged to Elizabeth's predecessor Mary I. He was also granted an annual pension of £400. On 31 October 1560 he was appointed master of the queen's hawks with a salary of £40 a year. On 20 April 1561, Henry also became a Knight of the Garter. Elizabeth appointed Carey Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners in 1564, a position making him effectively her personal bodyguard for four years. He accompanied her to Cambridge University in 1564, for which he was awarded a MA. On 25 August 1568, Henry was appointed Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. The year 1569 was the beginning of the Rising of the North. Henry was appointed Lieutenant General of the forces loyal to the Queen. His February victory over Sir Leonard Dacre was instrumental in crushing the rebellion. Nearly three thousand rebels ambushed Henry Carey's party of half that size, but Carey was nonetheless victorious in fending off the assault. The victorious Henry was appointed Warden of the Eastern March and represented the Queen in signing a treaty with the Regent on 23 October 1571. On 31 July 1574 Henry became Keeper of Somerset House, the property of the Queen before ascending the throne. He was then named Privy Counsellor in 1577. On 16 January 1581, Henry was appointed Captain-General of the forces responsible for the safety of English borders. He was appointed Lord Chamberlain of the Household in July 1585 and would hold this position until his death. Hunsdon was one of the commissioners appointed to try Mary queen of Scots; after Mary's execution he went on a mission to James VI of Scotland, and when the Spanish Armada was expected he commanded the queen's bodyguard. He died in London, at Somerset House, on the 23rd of July 1596.
Achievements
Carey was governor of Berwick and chamberlain of Queen Elizabeth's household, also known for his victory in Northern Rebellion.
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Membership
Member of Parliament, Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners (1564-1596), Lord Chamberlain (1585-1596), Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk (1585-1596), Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk (1585-1596)
Connections
On 21 May 1545 Carey married Anne Morgan, daughter of Sir Thomas Morgan, of Arkestone, Herefordshire, and Elizabeth Whitney. Their marriage resulted in the birth of sixteen children.
Father:
William Carey
He was a courtier and favourite of King Henry VIII of England.
Mother:
Mary Boleyn
She was the sister of English queen Anne Boleyn, whose family enjoyed considerable influence during the reign of King Henry VIII.
Spouse:
Anne Morgan, Baroness Hunsdon
Daughter:
Matilda Carey
Daughter:
Katherine Carey
Daughter:
Eleanor Carey
Daughter:
Margaret Carey
Daughter:
Anne Carey
Daughter:
Elizabeth Carey
Daughter:
Philadelphia Carey
Son:
Sir Edmund Carey
He was an English MP from 1584 to 1614.
Son:
George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon
Son:
William Carey
Son:
Joan Carey
Son:
Henry Carey
Son:
Thomas Carey
Son:
Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth
He was an English nobleman and courtier.
Son:
John Carey, 3rd Baron Hunsdon
He was an English peer, politician and Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
